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Monday, January 28, 2013

Vatican
City, 28 January 2013
(VIS) – Benedict XVI will grant Plenary Indulgence to the faithful
participating in the 21st World Day of the Sick to be celebrated 7–11
February, in Altotting, Germany according to a decree published today
and signed by Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro and Bishop Krzysztof
Nykiel, respectively penitentiary major and regent of the Apostolic
Penitentiary.

Persons
following the example of the Good Samaritan, who "with a spirit
of faith and a merciful soul, put themselves at the service of their
brothers and sisters who are suffering or who, if sick, endure the
pains and hardships of life … bearing witness to the faith through
the path of the Gospel of suffering" will obtain the Plenary
Indulgence, once a day and under the usual conditions (sacramental
Confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer in keeping with the
intentions of the Holy Father), applicable also to the souls of
deceased faithful:

A)
each time from 7–11 February,
in the Marian Shrine of Altotting or at any other place decided by
the ecclesiastical authorities, that they participate in a ceremony
held to beseech God to grant the goals of the World Day of the Sick,
praying the Our Father, the Creed, and an invocation to the Blessed
Virgin Mary.

Faithful
in public hospitals or any private house who, like the Good
Samaritan, charitably assist the ill and who, because of such
service, cannot attend the aforementioned celebrations, will obtain
the same gift of Plenary Indulgence if, for at least a few hours on
that day, they generously provide their charitable assistance to the
sick as if they were tending to Christ the Lord Himself and pray the
Our Father, the Creed, and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
with their soul removed from attachment to any form of sin and with
the intention of carrying out as soon as possible that which is
necessary to obtain the plenary indulgence.

The
faithful who because of illness, advance age, or other similar
reasons cannot take part in the aforementioned celebrations will
obtain the Plenary Indulgence if, with their soul removed from
attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of carrying out
as soon as possible the usual conditions, spiritually participating
in the sacred events of the determined days, particularly through
liturgical celebrations and the Supreme Pontiff's message broadcast
by television or radio, they pray for all the sick and offer their
physical and spiritual suffering to God through the Virgin Mary,
'Salus Infirmorum' (Health of the Sick).

B)
Partial Indulgence will be conceded to all the faithful who, between
the indicated days, with a contrite heart raise devout prayers to the
merciful Lord beseeching assistance for the sick in spirit during
this Year of Faith.